The Riessersee Hotel sits on the shore of the small Riessersee lake on the edge of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in a rural, waterfront setting rather than in the town itself. It is a large property, with 152 rooms spread across several buildings, and it works more like a resort than a small inn. Facilities include an indoor pool, a full-service spa with massage, facials, a sauna, a steam room and a hot tub, a health club, a bar with a lobby fireplace, and two restaurants, the Seehaus and the Sommergarten, plus the Riessersee bar. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. Free self-parking is on site, and there are electric car charging points. In winter a free ski shuttle runs to the slopes, and ski storage and ski passes are available. Rooms range from basic and comfort doubles to duplex rooms, triples and a suite, and the hotel offers free Wi-Fi and a safe in the rooms.
Location and getting around
The hotel is a walk of roughly eleven minutes from the Garmisch-Classic area and a little longer from the ski resort, but it is set apart from the centre, and the hotel's own recommendation is to have a car. That fits well with a Bavarian Alps trip, because the Zugspitze, the Eibsee and the Partnachklamm are all short drives away.
Free parking removes the usual expense of a resort stay. If you are arriving by train, a taxi or local bus from Garmisch station is the simplest approach, and the airport at Munich is about an hour and a half by road.
Rooms and who it suits
With nine room types, it is worth reading the descriptions. Basic doubles are straightforward, while the duplex rooms and the suite add space for families. Extra beds are available for a fee, and children under twelve need adult supervision in the pool, health club and hot tub, while very young children are not allowed in the spa.
Dogs are accepted in selected rooms for a nightly fee, so ask in advance. A buffet breakfast is included on the rates we checked and runs a little later at weekends, but confirm this when you reserve. The hotel suits active couples and families who want a pool and a lake after a day in the mountains.
Good to know
Check-in is from the afternoon and check-out is before eleven, with early check-in and late check-out available for a fee when space allows. The setting is quiet and scenic, but evenings are in the hotel rather than in town, so if you want a lively street scene, choose a central hotel instead.
Winter visitors benefit from the shuttle and ski storage, and summer visitors can walk or cycle on nearby trails and rent bikes. A local city tax applies per adult per night. Book early for school holidays and the Christmas period, when Garmisch fills, and consider a weekday stay for better rates.
Why stay here
- ✓Lakeside setting
- ✓Indoor pool
- ✓Full-service spa with sauna and steam room
- ✓Two restaurants and a bar
- ✓Free self-parking
- ✓Free ski shuttle and ski storage
- ✓Bike rental
- ✓Free Wi-Fi
Good questions
Is the Riessersee Hotel in the town centre?+
No. It is on the lake at the edge of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, about eleven minutes on foot from the Garmisch-Classic area, and a car is recommended.
Does the hotel have a pool and spa?+
Yes. There is an indoor pool and a full-service spa with a sauna, a steam room and a hot tub. Spa treatments need a reservation.
Is parking free?+
Yes, free uncovered self-parking is available on site, and there is an electric car charging station.
